Feature

MNA Feature Desk: The world’s oldest man has died at his home — a hot springs inn — in northern Japan at the age of 113. Masazo Nonaka died in the early hours of Sunday while sleeping at home in Ashoro on Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido, his family said, reports AP. He died peacefully from natural causes, according to his granddaughter Yuko Nonaka. The super-centenarian, whose family has run a hot springs inn for four generations, was certified by Guinness World Records in April 2018 as the world’s oldest living man at 112 years and 259 days. Born ...

MNA Feature Desk: The historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be observed today January 10 (Thursday) in a befitting manner. Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the nation and supreme commander of the country’s Liberation War, returned to the sacred soil of independent Bangladesh via London and New Delhi on January 10 in 1972, after 290 days of captivity in Pakistan jail, BSS reports. On that day in 1972, the then The Bangladesh Observer covered the historic day with the title “Nation welcomes home father today: Bangladesh smiles.” It read, “As the entire nation ...

MNA Feature Desk: Today is the 83th birth anniversary of Children’s Literature writer Rafiqul Haque. He is known as ‘DaduBhai’ to all. He was born on 8th January in 1937. He is the son of late Yeasin Uddin Ahamed and late Rahima Khatun, said a press release on Monday. He wrote the first poem on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He is a dramatist too. He has been playing a vital role as a litterateur since the Liberation War. He is well acclaimed for his contribution in the field of children’s literature. Meah Monsaf, President of Bangabandhu ...

MNA Feature Desk: By the end of the 19th century, the Serbian-American engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla had conceived some of the underlying technology behind alternating current, the induction motor, remote control, X-ray imaging and a host of other crucial Industrial Age technologies, including nearly 300 patents. He’s partly responsible for the fact that most of us have instant access to light, heat, TV, radio and the internet. “He’s an unsung hero,” says University of Oregon professor Brad Garner. “We wouldn’t have cell phones and power in our homes without his work.” Tesla’s vision was even more towering than his ...

MNA Feature Desk: The 116th birth anniversary of famous poet and litterateur Jasimuddin, popularly known as ‘Palli Kabi’, is being observed in Faridpur on Tuesday. The poet was born on this day of 1903 in his maternal uncle’s house in Tambulkhana village in Faridpur district. As part of the celebration, Deputy Commissioner Begum Umme Salma Tanjia, also the president of Jasim Foundation, along with superintendent of district police Md Jakir Hossain Khan paid floral tributes to the poet’s graveyard at Ambikapur. Jasimuddin’s ageless creation ‘Naksi Kanthar Math’ translated in foreign languages. Besides he is also the father of many remarkable ...

MNA Feature Desk: The holy Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated on Tuesday in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world with festivity and enthusiasm commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ. According to Christian’s faith, the Xmas is the celebration of rebirth, new beginning, forgiveness and peace, and renewing relationship with God and human beings. Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ on the day, which is a public holiday in Bangladesh and most other countries across the world. On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages by greeting ...

MNA Feature Desk: We are almost at the end of 2018–a very eventful year considering different events and incidents around the globe. Many claim that it was a tough year. Truly it was. Now we are standing close to embrace a new year. Lots of hopes are put on 2019. But in light of different contexts, it will be very wise to say that 2019 is going to be full of challenges for most of the world including Bangladesh and we must be aware from now on to fight or overcome those challenges. The global economy and politics both have ...

MNA Feature Desk: Many communities across the global are observing International Migrants Day today. International Migrants Day is an international day observed on 18 December as International Migrants Day appointed by the General Assembly of United Nations on 4 December 2000 taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world. All immigrants, irrespective of their legal status, have human rights. While states have the right to regulate the entry and stay of non-nationals in their territory, they can only do so within the limits of their human rights obligations. On 18 December 1990, the General Assembly ...

MNA Feature Desk: The 48th Victory Day is being observed on Sunday, marking the most precious day when the country was liberated from the Pakistani occupation forces after a nine-month-long bloodstained War of Liberation. Forty-seven years back on December 16 in 1971, Bangladesh was born as an independent country under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion. Special prayers will be offered in mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship seeking divine blessings for the peace and progress of the country. Destitute children ...

MNA Feature Desk: Martyred Intellectual Day was observed across the country on Friday in a befitting manner. Different political parties, socio-cultural and professional organisations arranged discussions, cultural functions and prayer sessions to pay rich tributes to the country’s golden son and daughters who were killed at the end of the liberation war in 1971. On the night of December 14, 1971, over 200 intellectuals — including: educationists, journalists, litterateurs, writers, physicians, scientists, lawyers, artists, philosophers and political thinkers — were picked up, in Dhaka, by the Pakistani occupation forces, aided by their local collaborators. The intellectuals were taken, blindfold, to ...

MNA Feature Desk: The 138th birth anniversary of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, a great national leader, is being observed on Tuesday with due reverence. Born in 1880 at Dhanpara village in Sirajganj, Bhasani dedicated his life to establishing the rights of the oppressed and downtrodden. Different political parties and socio-cultural organisations in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country have taken various programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner. Besides, Maulana Bhasani University of Science and Technology (MBUST) and the Bhasani Foundation and some other organisations will hold various programmes at Santosh remembering his struggle for the rights ...

MNA Feature Desk: Human Rights Day will be observed in the country like elsewhere in the world marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10 in 1948. This year, the Human Right Day marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being — regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, according a message ...

MNA Feature Desk: The Begum Rokeya Day is being observed on Sunday marking the 138th birth and 86th death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain, the pioneer for women’s rights in the subcontinent. On the occasion, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages paying rich tributes to Begum Rokeya. Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain was born on December 9 in 1880 at Pairaband village in Rangpur. She also passed away on December 9 in 1932. Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was a Bengali feminist thinker, writer, educationist, social activist, advocate of women’s rights, and widely regarded as the ...

MNA Feature Desk: During the last few months, reports of suicides of students have become very common and we might have ignored looking into the reasons behind. Going with the trend, a very depressing news came into the media on last Tuesday (Dec 3). A student of Viquarunnisa Noon School & College – country’s one of the most renowned educational institutions committed suicide. Her name was Aritri Adhikari, only 16 years of age and a student of class 9. The news came as a great shock as nothing can justify the waste of such a promising life. She gave away ...

MNA Feature Desk: The 55th anniversary of death of Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy was observed in the country, reported news agency. Different political and socio-cultural organizations had taken up elaborate programmes on the occasion. The programmes included placing of wreaths at the grave of the great leader, Quran recitations, holding of discussions and prayers sessions. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh issued separate messages on the occasion. In his message, the president said Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy had struggled to establish the rule of law and democracy throughout his life. Suhrawardy was a Bengali politician and statesman in the first half ...

MNA Feature Desk: Veteran journalist and former Bangladesh bureau chief of international news agency Reuters Anis Ahmed’s 65th birth anniversary is being observed today. AnisAhmed was born on Dec 5, 1954 at Shahbazpur of Nabinagarthana of BrahmanBaria district. His father was a school teacher. Among 4 sisters and two brothers, he was the eldest. After passing SSC from ShyamgramMohini Kishore High School, he got admitted at Dhaka College and passed his HSC from there. He got admitted at Department of Political Science at Dhaka University to complete his higher education. During the early 1970s, he joined country’s national news agency ...

MNA Feature Desk: The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was observed on Monday with the theme of ‘empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality’, reported news agency. Different organisations and institutions held programmes focusing on rights and wellbeing of persons with disabilities in society. The programmes also aimed to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University’s physical medicine and rehabilitation department in collaboration with Bangladesh Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation held a rally and a discussion marking the day, ...

MNA Feature Desk: The 21st anniversary of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord is being celebrated on Sunday, reported news agency. Different programmes were arranged in the three hilly districts – Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Rangamati — marking the anniversary of the peace treaty. A colourful rally, organised by Khagrachhari Hill district Parishad, was brought out around 8:00am. Besides, a discussion meeting was scheduled to be held around 10:00am. President Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday issued separate messages marking the completion of 21 years of the treaty. On 2 December 1997, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) ...

MNA Feature Desk: The first death anniversary of dreamer of ‘Clean Dhaka, Green Dhaka’, former mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Annisul Huq is being observed today. He lost the battle for life in a London hospital on 30 November, 2017, after undergoing treatment for nearly three months’ there. He was only 65 at the time of his demise. He was laid to eternal rest at Banani graveyard on Dec 2, 2017. Suffering from neurological problems (dizziness and a lack of balance) for the last several months, he was first admitted to the National Neuroscience Hospital in central London on ...

MNA Feature Desk: Today is the 12th death anniversary of Mohammad Hanif, the first elected mayor of undivided Dhaka City Corporation and president of Dhaka city Awami League. On the occasion, Mayor Mohammad Hanif Memorial Foundation, Dhaka city AL and different socio-cultural organisations will hold special prayers. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has started fortnightly free treatment facilities for the residents, marking Hanif’s death anniversary. DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon inaugurated the free treatment programme yesterday. Hanif suffered splinter injuries while shielding AL President Sheikh Hasina during the August 21 grenade attack on an AL rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in 2004. ...

MNA Feature Desk: Today is the 93rd birth anniversary of Munier Choudhury, an eminent educationist, playwright, and literary critic of Bangladesh. On the day in 1925, the playwright was born in Manikganj district. His ancestral home was in Noakhali district. His father, Khan Bahadur Abdul Halim Chowdhury, was a district magistrate. In 1952 he was arrested under the Preventive Detention Act for protesting against police repression and the killing of students on 21 February 1952. He remained in detention until 1954. While in jail he sat for the MA examination in Bangla, topping the list of successful candidates. In detention, ...

MNA Feature Desk: To commemorate this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign is calling upon us to stand in solidarity with survivors and survivor advocates and women’s human rights defenders who are working to prevent and end violence against women and girls. Our duty is not only to stand in solidarity with them but also to intensify our efforts to find solutions and measures to stop this preventable global scourge with a detrimental impact on women’s and girls’ lives and health. The last year has been extraordinary in terms of the awareness ...

MNA Feature Desk: The holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi, marking the birth and demise of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), was observed in the country on Wednesday with due reverence and religious fervour. Tens of thousands of Muslims with banners of different spiritual and social organizations like the Maizbhandar darbar and other spiritual hubs joined colouful street marches in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country chanting praising the prophet for his role for the mankind. On this day in 570, the 12th of Rabiul Awal of the Hijri calendar, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was born in Makkah of Saudi Arabia with divine blessings ...

MNA Feature Desk: Four decades ago this Sunday, the Rev Jim Jones, the charismatic leader of an American cult in the Guyanese jungle, ordered his followers to murder a US congressman and several journalists, then commit mass suicide by drinking cyanide-laced fruit punch. The Jonestown massacre was, before 9/11, the largest single incident of intentional civilian death in American history. More than 900 people died, many children. It was also a devastating cultural trauma: the end of the last strains of a certain kind of 1960s idealism and 1970s radicalism. Jonestown’s legacy lives on in the ironic phrase “drink the ...

MNA Feature Desk: The 42nd death anniversary of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, a great national leader, was observed across the country with due respect. Popularly known as ‘Majlum Jananeta’, the leader of the downtrodden, Maulana Bhasani, passed away on November 17 in 1976. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages paying rich tributes to the leader. Marking the day, different political parties and organisations organized various programmes. Bhasani was a popular leader in his fight against imperialism and oppression of the Pakistani rulers. Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, born in 1880 in Dhangara in Sirajganj, was ...

MNA Feature Desk: World Diabetes Day was observed across the globe to create awareness about the disease and its prevention, reported news agency. This year’s theme “The Family and Diabetes” aims to encourage families to learn more about the warning signs of diabetes and play a vital role in spreading awareness of the disease. Various activities were planned across the country to raise awareness of the impact that diabetes has on the family and support network of those affected. Jointly introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the day is internationally recognised. It was first ...

MNA Feature Desk: The 71st birthday of late prolific author, dramatist, screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed is being celebrated today (Tuesday). Humayun Ahmed (13 November 1948 – 19 July 2012) was a Bangladeshi writer, dramatist, screenwriter, filmmaker, songwriter, scholar, lecturer. His breakthrough was his debut novel Nondito Noroke published in 1972. He wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh. His books were the top sellers at the Ekushey Book Fair during the 1990s and 2000s. He won the Bangla Academy Award and the Ekushey Padak award for his contribution to Bengali literature. ...